diff --git a/server.c b/server.c
index 47c0289aafa486f8ac5516029ffa424bccb66bdb..756cfef5c75aea208cbd0b2954d261000bf69752 100644
--- a/server.c
+++ b/server.c
@@ -389,6 +389,8 @@ bool show_start_page(int sockfd, char* username) {
 
     char added[added_length];
 
+    memset(word, 0, sizeof(word));
+
     // create added string
     strcat(added, added_prefix);
     strcat(added, username);
@@ -404,6 +406,8 @@ bool show_accepted_page(int sockfd) {
 
     char added[2049];
 
+    memset(word, 0, sizeof(word));
+
     strcat(added, added_prefix);
     printf("added is now %s", added);
 
@@ -423,7 +427,7 @@ bool show_accepted_page(int sockfd) {
     }
 
     printf("added is now %s", added);
-    
+
     strcat(added, added_suffix);
 
     printf("added is now %s", added);